4.25″ Round Decorative Drain Cover Designs

Some ideas for a small drain cover that fits a standard PVC fitting, and a design failure that burnt up in the plate laser.

The task was to redesign drain covers so they didn’t look like this:

PVC drain fitting with steel cover

I named this one “Safari”, as it looks like “tusks and tiger stripes” to me.

SafariSafari

Just in case it’s not completely obvious, this one reminds me of nice decking and deck chairs, like on a well-done boardwalk. And that’s a visual that usually brings good memories of various vacations, so why shouldn’t “Deck Chairs” be good branding?

Deck ChairsDeck Chairs

“Smiley”? I suppose it also kinda looks like the AT&T logo, but that’s no fun. Not sure if this smiley looking drain cover would look menacing or positively anthropomorphic with some Phillips-head screws for “eyes” through the bolt-holes, but we didn’t end up making it to find out.

SmileySmiley

Hey, wanna see what caught my eye when I Googled how to spell “Anthropomorphic”?

OMG! Anthropomorphic Building

I didn’t know what to make of this one. This was the first one I drew-up of the series, and I often start the Design Ball rolling by just making geometric patterns (yes, I know they’re all “geometric patterns”, but you know what I mean). So anyway, it looks like a steel wheel; what has steel wheels? Trains.

Steamer WheelSteamer Wheel

“B” is significant to the person I designed this for. I downloaded a really excellent font (which is on a different computer far from me at this time so I can’t tell you the name of it) and it has a lot of Olde English calligraphy versions to choose from. I used it as the basis of this design, but then had to add support structure, so I tried to make the structure look like stained-glass leading.

Olde B – type 1 – version 1Olde B – type 1 – version 1

Only difference here is some extra cutouts in the B.

Olde B – type 2 – version 1Olde B – type 2 – version 1

Well, I made the design too thin in several places and the laser burnt it up. I knew I was pushing it, but decided to try it anyway. It’s surprising to me how some designs that you don’t think will work on the plate laser end up cutting just fine, but others don’t. I’m told it has to do with whether or not the cut is a straight line or an arc, arcs not faring as well.

Laser Fail

Here’s a more beefed up version with thicker lines, which I actually like better; so thanks, Laser.

Mrs. B

Designer_Rants

Hi, sorry it took so long to reply. It would probably cost you about $200 or so to get one-to-four of these made.

Edited to add: I’m working on making a design store shopping cart for this site, in which case you could buy one of these designs (CAD files) from $25 to $125 (the really intricate Olde English covers take at least a couple hours to make laserable). Then you could buy the design and have any laser shop cut as many of them as you want, for surprisingly cheap–depending on linear cutting inches and other factors, like finish and added processing like countersink drilling. Comment or email if any questions on this.

I really like how these drain covers were designed. This seems like a good way to put steel plates to good use. My favorite drain cover is Olde B-type2-version 2. I like how it incorporates the letter B in it using Gothic lettering.